Keg puller loading device for industrial trucks



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O 33 O/L E Mimi KEG PULLER LOADING DEVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed Feb. 19, 1948 Jan. 31, 1950 GENE Y5 Jan. 31, 1950' WESSMAN 2,496,079

KEG FULLER LOADING DEVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Filed Feb. 19, 1948 2'Sheets-Sheet 2 uvwzzvroza.v DAN/5L W5SMAN BY ATTOENEKS Patented Jan. 31, 1950 KEG FULLER LOADING DEVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS Daniel Wessman, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Towmotor Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 19, 1948, Serial No. 9,471

9 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to industrial trucks, and, more particularly, to mechanism for loading articles uponthe work carrier or loadsupporting platform of a lift truck.

In material-handling operations, it has heretofore been customary to employ pallets to support the load in spaced relation with the floor so that the lift forks, or similar load-carrying element, could be readily inserted thereunder, incident the transportation of the load. The use of pallets in shipping goods that leave a plant is undesirable, since such practice necessitates either removal of the load from the pallets or the return shipment thereof. Certain articles, such as kegs, drums, and similar objects of uniform size and shape, may, however, be handled without the use of pallets with greater expedition and dispatch.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide mechanism to facilitate the loading of such articles without the use of pallets, and without danger of mutilation of the goods. Briefly, the mechanism to implement such operation comprises a load-supporting platform which is designed for ready insertion between the floor and the base of the articles to be moved, and a loadembracing loop which is mounted for vertical movement and reciprocative translation over and above the platform. with this arrangement the vehicle may be positioned with the platform contiguous the load, the loop extended to overlie the articles, and the loop then lowered and retracted to draw the load upon the platform.

Certain prior workers in the art have proposed a structure in which the platform was provided with a pair of rotating screws having travelers thereon for the support of cables arranged to pull the load onto the platform. Such platforms, however, were too thick, due to the mechanism. embodied therein, to accommodate the successful'negotiationof the load thereon. Moreover, the cables proposed in such constructions required manipulation by the operator, and thus introduced a serious problem of physical hazard.

Accordingly, 'a further objectof the invention resides in the provision of a load-embracing member which may be advanced or retracted and also inclined upwardly or downwardly through a control unit disposed within reach of the driver of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a load-embracing loop which is mounted on a load ejector or so-called pusher which in turn is mounted on the mast that supports the loadcarrying platform. The mast is constructed for forward and rearward inclination; hence, with this combination, when the mast is tilted rearwardly and the pusher extended until the face thereof is flush with the leading edge of the platform, the load-embracing loop will be disposed above the upper faces of the articles to be moved. The mast may then be inclined forwardly so that the loop will descend and embrace the load as the platform engages the floor. Thereafter, the pusher may be retracted, or the vehicle may be advanced while the pusher is simultaneously retracted so that the articles embraced by the loop will be drawn upon the loadcarrying platform.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a load-embracing loop which is selfsupporting and relatively rigid in a vertical direction but subject to sufiicient lateral deflection to accommodate self-alignment between the articles to be moved. To this end the load-embracing loop may be made from a relatively thin strap material in the form of a U band having the inner ends thereof afiixed to the forward face of the pusher element, preferably in a manner that will permit pivotal movement of the loop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a check line on the forward end of the loop to regulate the operative height thereof or accommodate the support of the frame in an elevated idle position.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the following description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an industrial truck having the load-handling attachment mounted thereon, the truck mast and load-engaging loop being poised above a group of kegs incident the descent of the loop thereover;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a fragmentary portion of the loop and pusher frames;

Fig. 3 is a front elevatlonal view thereof Fig. 4 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of the loop and pusher frame;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective illustrating the loop engaged with the kegs and partially retracted as occurs when the load is drawn upon the platform; and

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating the position of the load during the transportation thereof.

Although the invention in its broader aspects is applicable to any industrial vehicle or materialhandling device, it is illustrated herein as applied 3 to a lift truck of the character disclosed in the patent to Elverton W. Weaver, No. 2,299,445. issued October 20, 1942. As shown in the several views in the drawings, the truck T includes a tilting mast M having a carriage C thereon which supports a load-supporting platform It. A loaddischarging mechanism or pusher P is mounted on the carriage for translation over the platform, and a material-embracingloop L is attached to the forward face of the pusher grid P. The platform I I] is supported by hangers H which are preferably mounted for pivotal movement on a cross rod l2 secured to the carriage. The platform comprises a rectangular steel plate formed with a beveled leading edge to facilitate the entry of the load thereon. The mast assembly embodies a hydraulic lift cylinder l3 having a piston therein which is provided with a crosshead ll for the support of a pair of carriage-elevating chains I5. The load is eiected from the platform by the pusher grid P which is formed with guide rails on the opposed sides thereof engaged within channels 2| supported on the carriage C. The grid is actuated by push rods 22 coupled with bell cranks 23 which in turn are interlinked with the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 24 mounted on the carriage. A mechanism suitable for this purpose is described in detail in the patent to Dwight M. Palm, No. 2,418,661, issued April 8, 1947.

The loading-embracing loop L embodies a pair of relatively thin steel bands disposed in spaced parallel relation with each other, and united by vertical struts 3|. The end wall and outer corners of the loop are designed to conform to the profile of the contemplated work agroupment, and the inner ends ofthe upper band of the loop define lineal arms 32 which are fulcrumed in brackets 33 on the grid P. The upper portion of the loop is reinforced by crossbars 34 disposed relative to the work to arrest the descent of the loop. It will be recognized that a loop thus framed will be relatively rigid in a vertical plane, yet susceptible of sufllcient lateral deflection to accommodate the ready engagement thereof over the work pieces. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the brackets 33 are disposed in normal relation to the arms 32 and are butt welded thereto together with a subtended gusset plate of a heavier gauge. The upper ends of the brackets are provided with blocks 35 which are drilled for the reception of pivot pins 36 seated in the upright portions 31 of the pusher grid frame. The blocks 35 and pivot pin bearings are disposed so that the inner faces of the brackets 33 will abut the grid cross- .bars 40 or 4| and thus rigidly support the loop in a horizontal position above the platform. The

uprights 31 are provided with a series of spaced openings for the pins 36 to accommodate adjustment of the loop relative to the height of the articles being handled. A chain 42 is provided to facilitate the support of the loop in an elevated position when the attachment is not in use, and may also be used to snub the descent of the loop when partially elevated during forward tilting operations of the mast.

Figs. 1, 5, and 6 illustrate sequential operations of the vehicle and the material-handling mechanism embodying the present invention. As

shown in Fig. l, the vehicle is disposed in juxta-' position with a group of kegs representative of a typical load. The forward edge of the platform is aligned with the foremost pair of kegs, the pusher and loop are distended, and the mast is tilted so that the loop is disposed above the selected kegs. With the vehicle so positioned, the mast may now be tilted forwardly until the platform rests upon the ground and the loop encircles the kegs. The pusher may now be retracted to draw the kegs from the floor onto the platform It, as shown in Fig. 5. After the pusher is fully retracted, and the kegs loaded upon the platform, the carriage may be elevated and the mast tilted rearwardly for transportation of the load, as shown in Fig.6.

The load may be stacked, one keg upon another, by elevating the carriage and tilting the mast forward until the platform rests upon the heads of the kegs in the lower course of prealigned units. Thereafter the pusher may be advanced while the truck is simultaneously backed away until the platform is fully retracted from the kegs. Finally, when the pusher is fully extended, the mast may again be tilted rearwardly to elevate the loop above the elected group of kegs.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. In an industrial truck, load-carrying platform means, a pusher mounted for reciprocative 1 .ovement thereover, mechanism for drawing a load upon said platform comprising a laterally thin, vertically rigid loop mounted on the pusher, said loop being rigidly suspended from and in spaced parallel relation with the platform, said loop being formed to envelop a load disposed beyond the forward end of the platform and to confine the load upon the platform during reciprocative movement of the pusher.

2. In an industrial truck, a load-carrying platform, a pusher element, and means mounting said pusher element on said truck for traversal of 'said platform, a loop pivotally mounted on said load=pusher element, said loop being laterally thin and vertically rigid and suspended cantilever fashion in overhanging relation with said platform and arranged to surround a load and cause it to move along said platform upon movement of said pusher, said platform means being relatively thin whereby said truck may be positioned with the underside of the platform level with the load-supporting structure and rearward of the load, the pusher may be extended with the loop pivoted upwardly from said platform to clear the load, the loop may be dropped over the load, and the pusher retracted to draw the load upon the platform.

3. In an industrial truck, load-carrying platform means protruding from the truck, a loadpusher element mounted on the truck for traversal of said platform means, an open, vertically rigid loop attached to said load-pusher, means suspending said loop in cantilever fashion from said pusher and in overhanging relationship to said platform means, said loop being arranged to surround a load and cause it to move along said platform means upon movement of said pusher element, said platform means being relatively thin whereby it may be positioned with the lower face thereof level with the base of the load, and

the load may be drawn thereon upon retraction of the pusher element.

4. In an industrial truck, a load-supporting platform protruding from the truck, a loadpusher including a Pusher element and means mounting'said pusher element on said truck for traversal of said platform, an open loop arranged to surround a load attached to said load-pusher and supportedcantilever fashion in overhanging relation to said platform, said loop comprising a relatively thin strap having legs attached to and extending generally forwardly from opposite sides of said pusher element, said legs merging with a laterally-extending, load-retracting portion.

5. In an industrial truck, a load-supporting platform extending from the truck, a load-pushing means including a pusher element mounted for traversal of said platform, an open loop arranged to surround a load attached to said loadpushing means and rigidly supported in overhanging relation to said platform, said loop comprising relatively thin straps having legs attached thereto and-disposed generally forwardly from opposite sides of said pusher element, said legs terminating in lateral load-engaging portions, said loop being vertically rigid and pivotally mounted on said pusher element for upward motion above said rigidly supported position.

6. In an industrial truck, a tilting mast, a loadsupporting platform means carried by said mast, a load-pushing means including a pusher element mounted on said mast for traversal of said platform, an open loop arranged to surround a load attached to said load-pushing means and rigidly supported in overhanging relation to said platform, said loop comprising relatively thin straps having cantilever legs attached to and disposed generally forwardly from opposite sides of said pusher element, said legs terminating in lateral load-engaging portions, the arrangement being such that said pusher may be extended past the platform, the mast tilted away from the load, truck manipulated and the loop disposed above the load, and the mast tilted toward the load to cause said loop to embrace the load without direct manipulation of the loop by an operator.

7. In an industrial truck, a tilting mast, an elevating carriage supported by said mast, a loadcarrying platform supported by said carriage, said platform being relatively thin and disposed for the engagement of the underside thereof with the floor, a load-pusher thereon mounted for traversal of said platform, a loop attached to said load-pusher and supported in overhanging relation to said platform, said loop being formed to embrace a load whereby said loop may be positioned over and above a load not on the platform by extending the pusher and tilting the mast away from the load, said loop may surround a load when the mast is tilted toward the load with the pusher element extended and the load drawn upon said platform when the pusher is retracted.

8. In an industrial truck embodying a tilting mast, a vertically movable carriage mounted on the mast and a pusher mounted on said carriage for reciprocative movement perpendicular to the mast, mechanism for embracing and moving a load comprising a loop, means suspending said loop in cantilever fashion from said pusher with said loop protruding from the forward face thereof, said loop being vertically rigid and formed for telescopic engagement with the load, said pusher and loop being arranged so that rearward tilting of said mast lifts said loop to facilitate clearing the load.

9. In an industrial truck embodying a tilting mast, a vertically movable carriage mounted on the mast and a pusher mounted on said carriage for reciprocative movement perpendicular to the mast, mechanism for embracing and' moving a load comprising a loop, means mounting said loop in cantilever fashion on said pusher with said loop protruding from the forward face thereof, said loop comprising relatively thin laterally flexible strap means mounted so as to be vertically rigid and formed for telescopic engagement with the load, said pusher and loop being arranged so that rearward tilting of said mast lifts said loop to facilitate clearing the load.

DANIEL WESSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

